NEW Name, same venom

Donegal/Derry Vipers Rebrand as the Northwest Vipers

As the 10-year anniversary of the Donegal/Derry vipers American Football team approaches the club announced on social media on the 5th of August that they would be rebranding for the 2025 American Football Ireland season which kicks off in March.

Despite much success in the past, the Vipers have been struggling to get much going across the past few seasons last making the playoffs in 2022 getting knocked in the semi-finals against the Westmeath Minotaurs.

It was last season that the Vipers suffered a tragic turn of events due to lack of players forcing them to forfeit two games. Due to league rules their whole season went down as 30-0 losses.

With the club at rock bottom, the only is up. Therefore, the Vipers decided to give themselves a new name, new logo a new brand all to match their new home in the Vale Centre, Greysteel they secured last season.

The hope for the rebrand is to put a bit of life into the club and attract new players from across the Northwest region. This has been an area of weakness across the past few seasons as previously stated.

Speaking about the rebrand of the club, Chairman Mark Gillen had this to say. “After 10 years we thought it was it was time to bring the vipers into a new era with a new look and feel to it. Make no mistake though, this club still has the heart of the original Vipers, we’re now aiming to give it a new lease of life.”

The club was founded in October of 2014 by Cathal Curran with the support of members within the organisation. The then Irish American Football League (IAFL) now American Football Ireland (AFI) 2015 season was the first playing season of the Vipers. Cathal stated that he was “Delighted with the new look to bring us into the next 10 years of the club. I am excited and looking forward to the 2025 season. The future is looking bright for the Vipers.”

For the first time in Vipers history, they have partnered with Ulster University’s Magee campus in Derry to offer American Football to its students. On Wednesday the 18th September, the Vipers will be taking their new name and brand to Magee to host the first of their open days.

Along with the news of a shiny new emblem, the Vipers are set to announce their open days otherwise known as their Rookie Camps however the difference is this year they are taking them on the road across the whole Northwest.

The dates and locations are as follows:

Ulster University (Magee Campus)- 18th September

Derry- 22nd September

Letterkenny- 28th September

Strabane- 6th October

Limavady- 20th October

Exact locations are to be confirmed but updates will be posted on the Vipers Social media pages within the next few weeks as well as details on how to register.

More information on the rebrand can be found by clicking here.

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